I would rather people were just honest.

If there is chemistry then stay and flirt your heart out ..... if there isn't then let them down gently.

I hate all the games that go with dating ....... the shall I call, shall I let them know I fancy them, shall I put myself on the line, shall I marry with thier heads games.

To be honest I am getting tired of it all - I am also tired of the ones that give it large for ages with you and then you never hear from them again, just a little honesty and less mind games would make it easier for everyone!

Sorry if that sounds like a rant.

I couldn't agree more. The dating games needs more honesty, but I can't see it ever happening. As once you go down the honesty route its like opening Pandora's Box.

People need the games (and I'm not afraid of including myself here) as in a way its a sort of psychological airbag. I've been honest with people from the get go and its got me burned on many an occasion. Now I'm hopelessly addicted to the games side because apart from letting you 'punch above your weight' its fun, in a sick sort of way.

Honesty is great, and I'd love to see more people being honest when it comes to this sort of thing, but its rarely reciprocal, and therein lies the problem. You often end up getting burned by the dishonest ones. So sadly the games are (for me at least) a necessary evil.

you see that is what gets me!

How can playing with someones emotions be 'fun'.

Sorry Chai I am not having a go at you directly but i just recently got 'played' by an absolute pro and I never saw it coming and after being on the receiving end of it I could never do it to anyone.

I only ever started doing it after having it done to me continually. It was simply a case of if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Perhaps not the best attitude to take, but its all down to protecting yourself.

Lets face it, your emotions as far as relationships are concerned are your most valuable and easiest to damage. Nobody likes rejection, no matter how much you get used to it. I just decided to get mercenary about the proceedings. I don't go out to hurt people, I got out with the intention of not getting hurt myself.

The only fun to be had is the interaction. Call it a more pro-active version of people-watching. Its made even more fun when someone is wise to it all and plays you back in the appropriate fashion. Thats where the fun is, not in screwing people over. I make it plain very early on if its not going to go anywhere, and I'm pretty fussy, which probably explains why I've ended up here. The irony isn't lost on me.

I know what you mean about being too choosy! I suffer from the same affliction, still cannot work out why George Clooney has not rung!

Back to the mind games - they are fine as long as people are on the same page - and preferably face to face, and as part of the flirting game it is great, it is when they are played to hurt and to score points that I hate it!